The supporters have also been banned from football grounds for a combined total of 52 years and six of them have been given custodial sentences.

The British Transport Police (BTP) have released a statement which read: "BTP detectives launched an investigation after the group chanted about Gary Dobson three days after he was convicted of murdering Stephen Lawrence.

"It was after the FA Cup fixture at Fulham that BTP officers were called to the train by concerned passengers travelling between Putney and Waterloo on Saturday, 7 January 2012.

"Officers immediately launched an investigation - codenamed Operation Midas - and, after working in close collaboration with Charlton Athletic, were able to quickly identify a number of people in connection with the incident."

The seven convicted fans were sentenced on Wednesday and David Bone and Daniel Clay were given 18 months in prison, Ben Boylett and Jason Butler 12 months and Sean Fowle and Aaron Phinbow eight months.

That sextet were all given eight-year football banning orders but Jake Embery was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and a four-year banning order.

Detective Sergeant Jane Hill, from British Transport Police, said: "The actions of these men were both offensive and extremely intimidating to other passengers on board the train at the time.

"I hope that being banned from the club, along with the sentences handed down, serves as a stark reminder that racism in our communities and on the rail network is utterly unacceptable."

Mick Everett, Head of Operations at Charlton, said: "Charlton Athletic is widely recognised as one of the most successful football clubs in the country at promoting social inclusion, building community cohesion, and tackling racism.

"Although this isolated incident does not reflect on the overwhelming majority of our fans, these arrests are a kick in the teeth to everyone associated with the club, who have put so much effort into our campaign over the years.

"The club will now look to impose additional appropriate sanctions on those involved."

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.